Footwear



D. 6, 1932. A F, BANCROFT 1,890,209

FOOTWEAR Filed Feb. l1, 1931 a is commonly be Paiengedpec. e, 1932` UNl'rlzoA STATES PATENT'- oFFlc-E All-:BIEIIRT F. BANCROFT, OF WEST NEWTON; MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BANCROFT- 1 IVALIKIEB' COMPANY, 0F BOSTON," MASS.A.('JH`USII 1'I.TS,v A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS FOOTWEAR Appucauon mea Februari 11, 1931. Yseran Nu. 514,968.

.This invention pertains to footwear, and

more particularly to. improvements in certain of the foot-supporting and foot-engaging elements of a shoe, with the object of providing greatercomfort and ease forI the wearer. It is well recognized that the prevailing mode inshoes, particularly those for womens wear, demands that the shoe have an external shape and contour quite unlike that of the normal foot..` This is particularly true of that portion of the shoe which is intended to support the foot, since the `extremely high heels employed` makeU it necessary that the rear and shank portions of the shoer bottom slopev sharply downwardly and forwardly toward the orepart on which substantially the entire weight yof the foot ordinarily rests. Thissharp forward inclination of the shoe bottom tends to cause the foot to slide forward within the shoe, and consequently tends to make the shoe appear loose at its rear part,

which is accompanied by a tendency of the shoe to slip up and down on the wearers heel, thus `giving the wearer the impression, that the shoe is poorly fitted. This feeling4 is accentuated bythe fact that, at the shank portion, the shoe as ordinarily constructed never properly vfits the oot, since although the supporting surface of the foot itself at the shank is a very narrow line along the outer side only, the usual and practical mode of making shoes demands a substantial width of sole at the shank portion, and thus at the inner side of the shank, the'upper is spaced from the foot and not only fails to provide the foot with any actual support at this point, but does not even give the wearer that sensation of snugness and comfort which comes from mere Contact.. In certain types of shoe y the shank meets the orepart at a very sharp angle and alonga very definite transverse line, and in other shoes the shank and foreut in neither form does the oot find any substantial sup ort at this portion, and this Iieved to be the cause of certain foot troubles, particularly those pertainin to the transverse arch of the foot.

Furthermore, when in shoes of the above types the shank or waist portion of the up per is cut very low or is wholly lacking, the above difficulties in shoe` construction become even more pronounced, and the pro- -ing open shanks as well as'shoes of other types, and which provides the foot with a support along the inner portion of the shank, such support being of a soft cushion-like natureadapted to impartto the wearer that l feeling of comfort arising from the sensation of snugness and perfection of lit; it furnishes a support for the foot, at that part `where the shank of the shoe'merges into the forepart, which in its moreV limited aspect is ot particular utility in shoes wherein the shank and orepart are united in a smooth curve; it furnishes a shank cushioning element and means for securing `such element in position, particularly adapted for use in shoeshaving low cut or open Shanks, and it further contemplates the provision of very effective means of practical character for preventing slippage between the counter-portion of the shoe and the heel of the wearer; all of such desirable features being adapted for incorporation in a shoe of standard type and construction.- i

' In the accompanying drawing, in which I have illustrated oneV desirable embodiment.

of the invention by way of example:

Y Fig. lis a side elevatiomnpartly broken away and partly in rlongitudinal vertical section, illustrating a shoe of the open shank type embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the shoe of Fig. 1 showing the sock lining removed and the shank-cushion retaining elements folded back to expose the'cushion;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section substantially on the line 3 3 of' Fig. 2, the curvature of the upper surface, of the sole being exaggerseveral of the parts necessary for clearness in illustration;

Fig.,4 is a plan view of the shank cushion removed from the shoe and drawn to some- 5 what larger scale;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are sections substantially on the lines 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8 respectively of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a plan view to small scale showing 10 the completed shoe with the sock lining in place and indicating the shank cushion in dotted lines; and

-Fig. 10 is an elevation to small scale of the rear portion of the shoe lining showing an inset anti-slip element embodied therein.

Referring to the drawin the numeral 1 designates the outer'sole o vthe shoe and 2 the inner sole. The shoe also comprises the upper 3, embodying the counter 4 and the linin 5, and is provided with a heel 6 and the s ank piece 7. The shoe shown is of the open shank type, that is to say at the shank portion the uppervis entirely absent as shown at 8 in Fig. 1. A shoe for the right foot is illustrated,-the side 9 being hereinafter referred to as the inner side and the side 10 as the outer side. For thel purpose of retaining the shank cushion device, hereinafter described, in proper position and for coni cealing its edges, I may provide a member 11 (Fig. 3) which mayl consist of thin leather or other suitable flexible sheet material which underlies the shank portion of the inner sole and which has projecting ends or flaps 11a and 11b respectively.v

As shown in Fig. 1 the forepart 2L of the inner sole 2 is substantially iat and horizontal, this part of the inner sole ordinarily bearing the greater portion of the wearers weight. The shank portion 2" of the inner sole is inclined with respect to the orepart 2, by reason of the hi h heel 6. As herein illustrated the inclined s ank portion 21 and the horizontal orepart 2 of the inner soleare united `by a smoothly curved surface 2c, although in some shoes the line of union between these two parts is a well defined angle. i

In accordance with the present invention I provide shank cushion means applicable to the shoe when the latter has been completed or substantially completed and which is here shown as consisting of a unitary member 12 (Fig. 4) of' rubber, felt, or other suitable yieldin or resilient material preshaped, pref-v` erably y molding, and which is adapted to lie along the inner edge portion of the shoe shank so as to afford a certain amount of support for the foot at this point, and at least to impress thewearer with the feeling 'that the shoe its snugly at this part. .As shown in Fig. 4, the cushioning member has substantially parallel and straight innerV and outer 'edges 13 and 14 respectively throughout its main portion. The outer edge 14 preferao5'bly curves around at the rear as shown at 15 until it merges with the edge 13. Atits forward end the cushioning device has' the head portion 16, having forwardly divergent lateral edges, which is substantially wider than the shank portion so as to provide ample support for the arch of the foot, and this head portion'is adapted to overlie the curved part 2c ofthe inner sole. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the main or elongate portion of the cushioning means is substantially less in width than the shank of the shoe, and by reference to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, it will be noted that the margins of the cushioning device are tapered down to thin edges, the thickest portion of the cushioning device being close to its inner edge 13 where the greatest amount of support is required. The-longitudinal or body portion of the cushioning means is preferably provided with a substantially iiat under surface 17 adapted to lie in 4contact with the shank surface of the inner sole, but at its forward or head end the under surface is curved as shown-at 18 to conform to the curved portion 2 of the inner sole, and the head portion 16 tapers in thickness to the edge 19 so that the upper surface of the cushioning means may merge smoothly into, the uppersurface of the inner sole.

In placing this cushioning device in the completed shoe, and assuming that the retaining ldevice 11 has been provided, the flaps 11* and 11h are first turned outwardly as shown in Fig. 2 and the cushioning means is then placed on the upper surface of the inner sole and adjusted until its inner edge 13 substantially coincides with the inner edge of the inner sole 2 or at least in such a posltion thatA when the sock lining S is placed Vin the shoe, the edge 13 `of the cushioning will regiseFnwitl; the inner edge of the sock lining .Before the sock linin isput in position, the flaps 1'1 and 11", i such are used, are turned'up and over the cushioning member 12 as shown in Fig. 13 and ma be cemented in placeI or otherwise secure If desired the cushioning member may be cemented to the inner sole, in which event the flaps 11a and 11b may or may not be secured in place, although such flaps when properly cemented will hold the cushioning means 1n position Witohout assistance.

As shown in Fig. 4 the cushioning device is of the contour intended for use in a right shoe, but it is to be understood that cushionin devices of reverse contour will be provi ed for use in left shoes. To assist in positioning the cushioning means'of the shoe, the inner sole may if desired be provided with notches or other marks to indicate where the forward or rear end or both of the cushioning device is to be placed and while it is contemplated that for best results the .cushioning deviceshould be placed in position by the shoe manufacturer before shipment of nu, im.

the shoe, it is possible to ship the sh0e with the flaps 11a and 11" loose so as to permit the retailer or the user to place the cushioning means at that part of the shoe where the greatest comfort is obtained, and then to secure it in placeby cementing it or the iiaps 11a and 1lb in position. 0bv1ously, the retaining device 11 may be dispensed with,part1cu larly when the cushioning means is to be used in shoes of other types.

As already pointed out, this .cushionin means is of especial value in the open shan type of shoe where the foot ordinarily finds no lateral support at the shank port1on so lthat the wearer constantly has the feeling that the shoe is about to come ofi'. ln this type of shoe the extra support at the shank and the snugger, closer fit afforded by this cushioning means gives. the wearer the feeling that the shoe fits snugly at th-e under portion of the instep arch at least, and thus gives greater satisfaction not only from the actual support afforded by the cushioning device, but also from the mental effect resulting from this snugger fit.

As the above type of shoe is particularly prone to slip at the heel, I prefer to provide,

in addition tothe cushioning means, an antislip element in the lining at the rear of the shoe. Referring to Fig. l0, the rear portions 5a and 5* of the lining are shown as separated and as having inserted between them the antislip member 2O preferably of some soft clinging material, suoli as suede leather, plush, or the like, This insert 20 is preferably secured by stitches or other appropriate fastening means at its lateral edges to the main members 5a and 5b of the lining and in order to secure the most eiiicient action, this anti-slip element is made of substantial width at its top, that is to say where its upper edge coincides with the upper edge of the shoe counter In fact the Width of this anti-slip element at this point is such that it extends around to the. sides lof the foot so as to hug the upper.

part of the heel very snugly, thus effectively preventing relative movement ofthe wearer s heel and the shoe. On the other hand in order to facilitate lasting and to prevent undue bulk of material of the insert, I taper this insert 20 downwardly preferably on smoothly curved marginal lines so that at its bottom, where its anti-slip action is of little consequence, it is quite narrow; further to facilitate lasting, l provide thisimember with a notch 21 extending upwardly from theeuter edge. If desired the lateral margins of the member 20 or of the line members 5a and 51 or both may be skived to reduce the thickness of the joint. V

A shoe having in combination the above described cushioning means together with the anti-slip element just referred to provides a maximum of comfort for the wearer since it provides a snug fit both at the shank and at the heel and avoids rocking or twisting of the shoe on the foot.

While the features above described are of particular value in an open shank shoe lthey are also effective in shoes of other types, and in its broader aspects the invention is not to be limited to the particular form of shoe in which it maybe embodied. `While the cushioning means ishere shown as a single unitary element, which I believeto be the best construction from the practical standpoint, I contemplate that under some sircumstances the elongate shank engaging part of this cushioning means may be separated from the head portion 16 and may if desired be of a different material from the latter. I fur- 'ther contemplate that various changes in size,

relative shape and arrangement of parts, and in the materials employed may be made, all within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention, it being noted that the above described improvements do not require any unusual steps or processes in the making of the shoe itself, and are capable of embodiment in shoes of all standard commercial types.

l claim:

l. A shoe having a sole member comprising a shank and forepart portions, cushioning means overlying the inner edge of the shank portion .and extending forwardly to the forepart portion, and a p'ece of flexible sheet material underlying the shank portion of the sole member and having opposite ends arranged to extend up over the edge of the shank portion of the sole member and to overlie the shank portion of the cushioning means.

2. A shoe having an insole whose forepart and shank portions are inclined relatively to each other, the shank and forepart being joined by a curved surface, a cushioning device disposed upon the upper surface of the insole, said cushioning device consisting of a unitary piece of soft resilient material comprislng an elongate main portion having substantially straight and parallel inner and outer edges, the inner edge registering with the inner edge of the shank of the insole, said edges Haring in curved lines at the forward end of the device to define a relatively wide head portion adapted to underlie the meta,- tarsal arch of the wearers foot, the under surface of said head portion being convexly curved to correspond to the curvature of the 'its rear end portion.

3. A cushioning device for use in a substantially completed shoe having an insole whose forepart and shank portions are disposed at a distinct angle to one another and united by a curved surface, said cushioning -device consisting of a unitary premolded piece of resilient material comprising an elongate main porti. on of a width less than that of the shank of the insole and having an inner edge shaped to register with the inner edge of the insole, said elongate part being thickest near its inner edge and tapering in thickness toward its lateral margins, said device also having a head or forward portion of a greater Width than said elongate portion and adapted to underlie the metatarsal arch of the wearers foot, the lateral edges of said head portion' being curved and V merging smoothly into the lateral edges of the elongate portion, the under surface of said head having a contour complemental to that curved surface of the insole which joins the forepart and shank of the latter.

4. A shoe of the open shank type having a sole member comprising a shank and a forepart, and cushioning means extending along the upper surface of the shank portion of the sole member at one side only of said shank ortion and a covering ila secured at one end beneath the sole member and extending upwardly over the edge of said sole member and over said cushioning means for concealing the latter, the other end of the liap being free of direct connection to the sole member or the upper ofthe shoe.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this seventh day of February, 1931,

ALBERT F. BANCROFT. 

